Device for controlling the feed of cut tobacco to cigarette making machines



July 15, 1958 H. KOCH ETAL 2,84 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED OF CUT TOBACCO TO CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l R Inven tors jfaiz s Jzoc/z 0650 P6 te r5 @A AQM July 15, 1958 H. KOCH ETAL 2,343,429

DEVICE FORHCONTROLLING THE FEED OF CUT TOBACCO T0 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed May 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venfors 1 122725 Jzoc/z Z 7' #0 Peters 73, I 5 7 United States Patent DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE FEED OF CUT TOBACCO TO CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Hans Koch, Hamburg-Rahlstedt, and Otto Peters, Hamburg-Lohbrugge Sanmannreihe, Germany, assiguors t0 Kurt Kiirber & Co. K. G., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,580

Claims priority, application Germany June 4, 1954 4 Claims. (Cl. 30217) The invention relates to a method and device for controlling the feed of cut tobacco in a pneumatic feed device employed in connection with cigarette making machines.

it is an object of the invention to provide a substantial simplification and reduction in cost of a tobacco feed machine which also operates in a very dependable manner.

In order to feed cut tobacco from the supply table to the individual cigarette making machines without destroying the tobacco fibers in the cut tobacco, there are being used with advantage pneumatically operated tubular feed lines. The tubular feed lines are all connected to the suction side of a blower. The tobacco is supplied from a point which usually is arranged at a great distance away from the cigarette making machines. For the purpose of controlling the tobacco feed, it is customary to emplo if necessary, an optical and/or an acoustical signal deiv ce which is operated either manually by the operator of the machine or by a contact arrangement which is controlled by the cigarette making machine itself. In both cases, the plurality of separately arranged transmission lines for the control signals from the cigarette making machines, which latter are located at a lower floor level than the tobacco supply tables, result in an increase in the cost of the arrangements and also makes the maintenance of these arrangements rather ex pensive.

According to the present invention, the. disadvantages of these known arrangements are to be eliminated and this is done by arranging in the feed line for the tobacco between the supply device and the distributor of a rod cigarette machine, and above the tobacco supply table an optical and/or acoustical signal-device actuated by the low pressure employed for feeding the cut tobacco. The device of the invention is constructed in such a manner that by means of an auxiliary aperture in the feed line, there is produced in a pipe fitting, preferably arranged at right angles to the feed line, a low pressure which is adapted to close a flap arranged at the free end of this pipe fitting. This flap is employed to control the above mentioned signal device over electrical contacts or suitable other elements.

The drawing illustrates by way of example an embodi ment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a pneumatic feed device which extends over three floor levels for feeding tobacco to two cigarette making machines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of a supply table viewed in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 1).

Fig. 3 shows a signal operating device including its electrical wiring diagram.

Fig. 4 shows on an enlarged scale a supply device according to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, an electric motor 1 drives a blower 2 of a pneumatic feeding device which extends,

for instance, over three superimposed floor levels and, t

9, 9 adjacent the tobacco supply table 8, 8.

"ice

produces the necessary suction for conveying or feeding the cut tobacco to the desired cigarette making machines. The pressure side of the blower 2 is connected by a conduit 4 to a filter. device 5. In this filter device 5, the dust is separated, and the clean air returns into the room. The suction inlets 6, 6' (Fig. 2) for receiving the cut tobacco are connected with the feed lines 7, 7 and are arranged-directly above a double supply table 8, 8'. Above the inlets 6, 6' are arranged signal lamps These lamps 9, 9 will light up as soon as a low pressure is produced in the lines 7, 7. The operation of these lamps will be described in more detail hereinafter. The feed lines 7, 7' lead each to a delivery device 10, 10 which terminates above the distributors 11, 11' of the cigarette making machines 12, 12'. From the delivery devices 10, 10', suction lines 13, 13 lead to a main suction line 14 which is connected to the suction side of the blower 2. Since the suction air stream is produced continuously, while, however, the tobacco feed 'does not operate continuously, there is arranged in each of the suction lines 13, 13 a deflector device 15, 15 which, for instance, may be electrically controlled. The deflector devices 15, 15' are adapted to close, during the tobacco feed, openings 16, 16' so that when the openings 16, 16 are closed, the air stream enters the inlets 6, 6' above the supply tables 8, 8, passes through the feed lines 7, 7 and through the delivery devices 10, 10, and finally through the suction lines 13, 13' to the main suction line 14. After an automatic actuation of the deflector devices 15, 15', the main suction line 14 and the suction lines 13, 13' admit auxiliary air from the surrounding atmosphere through the uncovered openings 16, 16', which has the result that during this time the feed lines 7,. 7' and the delivery devices 10, 10 are not subjected to low pressure.

7 Prior to the start of the delivery of tobacco, the deflector devices 15, 15 are so arranged that the auxiliary air inlets draw auxiliary air from the surrounding atmosphere into the system as soon as the blower 2 is started so that a tobacco feeding is not possible. In order to fill the delivery devices 10, 10' with the tobacco prior to the start of the operation of the cigarette making machine, there must be actuated a push button switch which is arranged on the machine, but which is not. illustrated in the drawing because this switch is of known construction. The actuation of this push button switch results in an adjustment of the deflector for feeding; for instance this adjustment may be accomplished by a solenoid. In the lower portion of each of the delivery devices 10, 10 is arranged a rotatable discharge flop 18, 18' which is rotatable about a pivot axis 17, 17' and by means of air suction is moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 to the closed position shown in solid lines, so that now by means of the suction inlets 6, 6 over the supply tables 8, 8' the cut tobacco is sucked into the lines 7, 7'. This tobacco feed condition is indicated by the signal lamp 9, 9 arranged above the suction inlets 6, 6. The energization of the signal lamps, according to the present invention, takes place by making use of the suction pressure prevailing in the suction lines 7, 7'. According to Fig. 3, there is arranged in each of the suction lines 7,.7 an auxiliary opening 19, 19 covered by a tubular fitting 20, 20, carrying a pivotally mounted flap 21,. 21 rotatably supported about a pivot axis 22, 22'- passing through the point of gravity so that the closure surface 23, 23' of the flap 21, 21 may engage the outer inclined end face of the fitting 20, 20'. The tubular fittings 20, 20' may be connected by means of a flange 24, 24, and reinforcing flanges 25, 25 with the feed lines 7, 7'. An insulated button 26, 26' is arranged on each of the flaps 21, 21' which urges the contact springs 27,

27' upwardly so that the contacts 28, 28 engage contacts 29, 29 on additional contact springs 30, 30 so as to close secondary circuits 31, 31 of transformers 32, 32, thereby causing the signal lamps 9, 9 arranged in these circuits to light up. The transformers 32, 32' are connected by means of switches 33, 33' with a supply circuit. Both contact springs are arranged insulated from each other and also' are insulated from the tubular feed lines 7, 7.

Electro-acoustical signal devices may be connected parallel to the mentioned signal lamps 9, 9 if that should be considered desirable. It is, however, also possible to employ the mentioned electro-acoustical signal devices alone in the described circuits. In another embodiment which is not illustrated, it is possible to connect the flap directly with a hammer which operates the acoustical devices consisting, for instance, of bells.

The cut tobacco which reaches the delivery devices 10, after the signal device has been actuated according to Fig. 5, is separated by a screen 34, 34' from the conveying air stream and is retained in the delivery devices. The amount of tobacco collected in the delivery 4 of a tobacco cigarette making machine and producing a signal at a remote feed station, comprising a separate feed table arranged at a remote point from said cigarette making machine, a distributor chamber arranged above the cigarette making machine to periodically feed a predetermined quantity of tobacco to said machine, an exhauster fan connected to said tobacco distributor adapted to operate continuously, a tobacco feed duct having a remotely disposed feed inlet adjacent said feed table for feeding tobacco to said distributor chamber, said distributor chamber being provided with a discharge opening adapted to be closed by a suction actuated discharge 7 door, a branch pipe connected to said feed duct adjacent devices increases continuously until a certain amount of weight of the cut tobacco has been reached. Then a not disclosed indicator, such as a feeler, will be operated, which in electrical manner afiect-s the previously mentioned operation of the deflector devices 15, 15' and connects the latter for auxiliary air. This causes an interruption of the feeding air stream in the feed lines 7, 7', the'signal devices are rendered inoperative and the feed of the cut tobacco is interrupted. At the same time, the discharge flaps 18, 18' of the delivery devices 10, 10 are said feed table having its open end communicating with the atmosphere, a flap valve adapted to be moved to a closed position with respect to the open end of said branch pipe during evacuation of said distributor chamber and to be moved to an open position when the pressure in said feed duct increases, an electric signal device arranged adjacent said branch pipe and remote tobacco inlet of said feed duct, a normally open electric circuit for said signal including a source of electrical energy, an electric switch on said branch pipe connected in said circuit, an extension on said flap valve adapted to close the contacts of said electric switch when said flap valve is in its closed position, and a vent for said distributor chamber adapted to be intermittently operated to vent said distributor chamber to the atmosphere and opened and the tobacco drops onto the distributors of the cigarette making machines. The just mentioned push button switch is operated a number of times-namely, as often as necessary until the distributor is filled with cut tobacco. Thereupon, the cigarette making machine is set in operation and instead of actuating the manual push button switch, there will now be employed an electric time switch relay which is adjusted according to experience in order to effect the automatic operation of the deflector devices 15, 15 in uniformly spaced time intervals so that the tobacco amount on the distributor remains always the same.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for conveying tobacco to the spreader distributor of a tobacco cigarette making machine, comprising separate feed tables arranged at a remote point from said cigarette making machine, a distributor chamber arranged above the cigarette making machine to periodically feed a predetermined quantity of tobacco to said machine, an exhauster fan connected to said tobacco distributor creating a continuous reduced pressure therein, a tobacco feed duct having a remotely disposed feed inlet adjacent said feed table for feeding tobacco to said distributor chamber, said distributor chamber being provided with a discharge opening adapted to be closed by an exhaust actuated discharge door, a branch pipe connected to said feed duct adjacent said feed table, a normally open flap valve adapted to be moved to a closed position during evacuation of said distributor chamber and to be opened when the pressure in said feed duct is increased, an electric signal adjacent said branch pipe and remote tobacco inlet thereof, a normally open electric circuit for said electric signal including a source of energy and an electric switch, said electric switch being arranged on said branch pipe in the path of a projection on said flap valve whereby said switch will be maintained in a closed position when the flap valve is in closed relation with respect to the open end of said branch pipe,

and vent means for said distributor and spreader chamber to vent said chamber to the atmosphere and permit said discharge door to be opened while simultaneously interrupting the circuit of said signal device and de-' energizing said electric signal.

2. In a device for conveying tobacco to the distributor permit said flap valve to move to its open position and interrupt said signal such as to indicate to the operator of said feed table that the distributor chamber was being opened, and the discharge of the tobacco therein.

3. In a device for conveying tobacco to the distributor of a cigarette making machine and producing a signal at a remote point such as a tobacco feed station for said distributor, comprising a separate feed table arranged at a remote point from said cigarette making machine, a distributor chamber arranged above the cigarette making machine having a discharge opening and a vent opening, a discharge valve for said discharge opening adapted to be held in a closed position when said distributor chamber is evacuated by closing said vent opening and opened when'said distributor chamber is vented to the atmosphere to periodically feed a predetermined quantity of tobacco to said machine, a continuously operated exhauster fan connected to said tobacco distributor for creating a reduced pressure therein, a tobacco feed duct connected to said distributor and having its open inlet end positioned adjacent said feed table for feeding tobacco to said distributor chamber, a branch pipe connected to said feed duct adjacent said feed table and closely spaced from the inlet end of said feed duct, a normally open valve pivoted to said branch pipe having an extension thereon, an electric signal mounted adjacent said branch pipe, an electric switch supported on said branch pipe, and an electric circuit for said signal and switch including a source of electrical energy, said switch being normally open and being adapted to close when said flap valve is moved into engagement with the open end of said branch pipe during evacuation of said distributor chamber and being adapted to open to interrupt said signal when said distributor chamber is vented to the atmosphere for the purpose of releasing the discharge door thereof and permitting the emptying of the tobacco in said distributor chamber into the tobacco cigarette making machine.

4. In a device for conveying cut tobacco to cigarette making machines and producing a signal at a remote tobacco feeding station, comprising distributing tables for the cut tobacco arranged at a remote point from said cigarette making machine at a distance therefrom, a distributor chamber mounted above each of said cigarette making machines, said distributor chambers being provided with discharge doors for closing discharge openings therein a continuously operated exhauster fan connected to said distributor chambers, a feed duct extending from said feed tables to said distributor chambers to pneumatically feed tobacco thereto, vent means for said chambers adapted to vent the same to the atmosphere and permit the discharge door of said chambers to be opened for discharging the tobacco into its respective cigarette making machine, a signal device arranged adjacent the inlet of said feed duct and above said feed table, and means responsive to an increase in pressure in said feed duct for operating said signal when said distributor chamber is vented to indicate to the operator of the feed table the discharge of tobacco from said distributor chamber into said cigarette making machines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,937,158 Lorentz Nov. 28, 1933 2,556,058 Boon June 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 292,971 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1953 

